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Madhya Pradesh has received 21 inches of rainfall so far this monsoon. That's 53 percent more than the expected average of 13.7 inches.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain alert for 15 districts today, including Jabalpur, Betul, and Sheopur. Up to 4.5 inches of rain could fall within 24 hours.
Monsoon Rain Surpasses Seasonal Average
"Two cyclonic systems are active over the region," said Dr. Divya E. Surendran, Senior Meteorologist at IMD. "The monsoon trough is passing through central India, which is bringing more moisture and causing widespread rainfall."
Rainfall across the state has been uneven. While some districts have reached or exceeded their seasonal targets, others remain far behind.
Bhopal saw sunny skies through most of Tuesday. But after 4 p.m., clouds gathered quickly, and heavy rain drenched the city well into the night. Similar evening showers were reported in Indore, Chhindwara, and Tikamgarh.
Dr. Surendran said the rain pattern is likely to continue for at least four more days. “There is a high possibility of heavy and very heavy rainfall in some areas due to the moisture coming in from both the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea,” she said.
So far, there have been no reports of deaths or rain-related accidents.
Districts with Heavy Rain Warning Today
District Name |
---|
Jabalpur |
Sheopur |
Morena |
Narmadapuram |
Betul |
Narsinghpur |
Chhindwara |
Pandhurna |
Sagar |
Damoh |
Seoni |
Mandla |
Balaghat |
Dindori |
Anuppur |
The IMD said a new weather system is forming over the North Bay of Bengal. It may develop into a low-pressure area by Thursday. This could bring more rain to large parts of Madhya Pradesh in the days ahead.
"Rainfall activity is expected to intensify after three days," said Ajay Shukla, a weather expert based in Bhopal. "Moisture from both coasts is feeding into these systems, which will keep the skies cloudy and bring light to moderate showers across most districts."
He added that rainfall has started picking up again in several areas and could become more frequent by the weekend.
Others Still Lag Behind Season
According to data from Tuesday, the rainfall from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. was as follows:
Narmadapuram: 15 mm
Malajkhand: 11 mm
Bhopal: 10 mm
Pachmarhi: 8 mm
Indore and Damoh: 5 mm
Satna: 1 mm
Seoni recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall at 19.4 mm, followed by Indore at 19 mm.
Some districts have already exceeded their rainfall quota. Niwari, Tikamgarh, and Sheopur have received 15 percent more rain than average. Gwalior and four other districts have reported between 80 to 95 percent of their usual totals.
On the other hand, places like Indore, Ujjain, Shajapur, Burhanpur, and Agar-Malwa are still behind, with less than 10 inches of rainfall this season.
"The monsoon trough currently extends from Sri Ganganagar to the Bay of Bengal through central India," said P.K. Raikwar, a scientist at the Meteorological Centre. "A cyclonic circulation is also active near southern Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, which is pulling in more moisture into Madhya Pradesh."
Gwalior Hottest, Pachmarhi Coolest
Temperature readings on Tuesday varied widely. Gwalior recorded a high of 35.7°C, the warmest in the state. Other hot spots included Sheopur at 35.4°C and Khargone at 35°C. The coolest spot was Pachmarhi at 20.6°C.
For the next two days, rain is expected in almost every district. Light to moderate showers are likely across Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Ujjain, Dewas, and others. Heavy rain is forecast for Jabalpur, Harda, Mandla, Chhindwara, and Balaghat.
With more rain ahead, people in the alert zones are advised to stay updated on local forecasts.
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